Indiana Action for Healthy Kids

About AFHK

Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) is a nationwide initiative dedicated to improving the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity in schools.  This effort represents a response to our nation's epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished children and adolescents.  Healthy schools produce healthy students--and healthy students are better able to learn and achieve their true potential. 

National Action for Healthy Kids Web Site

Why now?

The incidence of childhood overweight and obesity has tripled over the past 20 years.  A prevention strategy is crucial.  School is a structured environment where it is possible to have a powerful influence on children's eating and activity patterns.  And, schools provide equality of access to information in settings where families differ in their levels of knowledge and ability to discuss nutritional and physical activity needs.

Who We Are

At the 2002 Healthy Schools Summit in Washington, D.C., Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher asked America to address this burgeoning crisis-and Action for Healthy Kids was formed to answer.

A public-private partnership of more than 50 national organizations and government agencies representing education, health, fitness and nutrition, Action for Healthy Kids addresses the epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished youth by focusing on changes in schools.

Thousands of volunteer administrators, educators, health professionals, parents, and others take action at the state, district, and school level through Action for Healthy Kids' State Teams in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Through this network, Action for Healthy Kids works to improve nutrition and increase physical activity in schools. Because healthy children learn better.
 

What We Do

AFHK has three major thrusts:

• Improving children's eating habits by increasing access to nutritious foods and beverages throughout the school campus and by integrating nutrition education into the curriculum.

• Increasing children's physical activity by adding or maintaining physical education courses and recess, and promoting after-school and co-curricular programs.

• Educating administrators, teachers, children and parents about how nutrition and physical activity impact children's health and academic achievement.